Valve-saddle for tapping water or other mains



A. LETZKUS. VALVE SADDLE FOR TAPPING WATER OR OTHER MAINS. No. 390,490.

Patented 0 2 N4 PETERS. Pmmmmmm HJNKTED STATEs PATENT @EEicE,

ANTHONEY LETZKUS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE=SADDLE FOR TAPPING WATER OR OTHER MAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,490, dated Qctober 2, 1888.

Application filed June 7, 1888. Serial No. 276,336. (No \llOtlr-l.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that l, ANTHONEY LETZKUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Valve-Saddles for Tapping Water or other Mains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its objects to provide a simple, durable, and efficient valve-contain ing saddle for drilling mechanism to tap water, gas, or other fluid mains without removing the fluid-pressure therefrom, and to provide novel means for connecting the saddle with the main to be tapped.

The invention consists in a saddle for tapping mains divided horizontallyinto an upper and a lower section having side grooves formiug a rectilinearinternal valve-seat with a horizontally-sliding-valve therein, the lower section having a semicircular bottom seat and formed integral with pairs of perforated lugs and the upper section having a sleeve for connecting with a drill mechanism and formed integral with pairs of perforated lugs registering with those on the lower section, in corn bination with stirrups having rigid screwthreaded arms extending through the lugs, and screw-nuts on the arms for clamping the two sections together and also binding the saddle bodily on the main to be tapped.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of the saddleeasing with the stirrups in place; Fig. 2, a transverse sectional view showing the saddle-casing clamped on a main, as when the latter is to be tapped. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 a detail plan view of the dislevalve and its opcrating-stem.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now de' scribe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, where it will be seen that the saddlecasing is divided on a horizontal line into an upper section, 1, and a lower section, 2, the opposite internal sides, 3, of which are provided with tapering grooves 4, whiclnwhen the sections are placed together in proper re ister, constitute a horizontal rectilinear valveseat tapering from end to end of the casing.

The lower section, 2, is formed at its under those on the lower section, and through all of the lugs are formed smooth vertical orifices, through which are passed the arms of two rigid stirrups, 9, adapted to encircle a main, as in Fig. 2, and having their extremities screw-threaded to receive screw-nuts 10, by which the two horizontal sections of the sad die-casing are clamped together, and the en tire casing also clamped with its semicircular seat upon the surface of the main to be tapped.

The upper section, 1, of the saddlecasingis formed integral with a sleeve, 11, having an internal screw-socket, 12, for the purpose of receiving and attaching the drill mechanism for tapping the main. I do not deem it necessary to here exhibit the drill and its appurtenances, as they may be of any known construction required. A suitable mechanism for this purpose is exhibited in Letters Patent, No. 174,542, issued to me March 7, 1876. If such drill is used it will only be necessary to screw the drill-carrying tube shown in said patent into the screw-socket 12 of the sleeve 11 on the upper section, 1, of the saddlecasing. The disk-valve 13 is tapering to correspond to thetapering valve-seat formed bythegrooves4, and this valve ismovable inahorizontal plane below the screw-socket 12, and between the two sections comprising the saddle easing. A screw-threaded valve stem, 14, working in a screw-socket, 15, in one end of the saddle-casing, is swiveled at its inner end to the diskvalve, as at 16, Figs. 3 and 4, so that by turning the valvestem the valve is adjusted across the sleeve and over the orifice 17 in the lower sec tion, 2, of the casing, which orifice permits the passage of the drill to the main when the valve is properly adjusted for this purpose.

The lugs, rigid stirrups, and screwnuts not only provide simple and efficient means for clamping the saddle bodily on the main to be tapped, but also to connect and clamp the two sections of the saddle-easing together.

In practice, when a main is to be tapped the saddle is clamped thereupon by the rigid stirrups, as in Fig. 2, and the valve being in its open position the drill is operated through the screw-socket 12 and orifice 17. The top having been formed, the drill is withdrawn and the valvestem quickly turned to move the valve across the screw-socket 12 and close the valve A plug or cock is then secured to the drill-rod, as in my aforesaid patent, the valve is again opened and the plug or cook inserted into the tap, all as is ordinarily practiced in this class of apparatus.

\Vhat I claim is 1. A saddle for tapping mains divided horizontally into an upper section and a lower section having registering side grooves forming a rectilinear valve-seat and a horizontallysliding valve therein, the lower section having the semicircular bottom seat and formed integral with the pairs of perforated side lugs, and the upper section havinga sleeve for connecting with a drill mechanism and formed integral with pairs of perforated side lugs registering with those on the lower section, in combination with stirrups having rigid screwthreaded arms extending through the lugs, and screw-nuts on the arms for clamping the two sections together and also binding the saddle bodily on the main to be tapped, substantially as described. Y

2. A saddle for tapping mains under pressure, divided horizontally into an upper anda lower section, having registering side grooves tapering from end to end and forming a rectiing the sleeve and formed integral with the pairs of perforated side lugs, in combination with the stirrups having their rigid screwthreaded arms extending through the lugs, and screw-nuts on the arms for clamping the saddle-sections together, andalso binding the sad dle bodily on the main to be tapped, substantially as described.

3. Asaddle for tapping mains, divided horizontally into an upper and a lower section having internal grooves constituting a rectilinear valve-seat, the lower section provided with a through orifice and a semicircular bottom seat and formed integral with pairs of vertically-perforated side lugs, and the upper section provided with a sleeve to connect with a drill and formed integral with vertically-perforated side lugs registering with those on the lower section, in combination with a diskvalve sliding horizontally between the sections, the stirrups having their screw-threaded arms extending through the lugs, and the screw-nuts on the arms for clamping the two saddle-sections together, and also binding the saddle bodily on the main to be drilled, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONEY LETZKUS.

\Vitnesses:

D. P. BERG, H. J. WENKE. 

